Mar 26, 2012

Perspective: Natural “Disasters”

When earthquake, flood, fire, etc., occur in an area that is not inhabited by humans, it does not generally get any notice by the media, and therefore is not really a disaster. What I am saying is that disaster is relative to what it affects. Imagine now, if you will, a Japan/Hati/NZ-like island, void of any people. The best way to do this is to go back in time before humans existed. Why do this? Well, for perspective, what was the coast of Japan like back then? For thousands of years landscapes were formed by volcanoes and earthquakes. Why is this relative?

Humans by default are fairly arrogant, in that we feel like we own the Earth, it is ours because we are the dominant species of animal that control more, change more, inhabit more, than anything else. Or do we? As it happens we are just starting to realize that we do not own the Earth and it is not ours. Like a child in a sandbox who spends everyday at recess smoothing the sand out making it as flat as possible, until one day it rains and the imperfections turn into puddles which gradually dries and a temper-tantrum ensues.

What makes it difficult, is emotion. The proverbial ball and chain of humanity. Of all the social animals, emotion for humans is a continuous struggle between our ability to reason and and ability to express our feelings. This is of course arguable, because we do not fully understand all the other animals we live with.

How do the birds and insects feel about their lack of control of Earthly cycles and events?

You could say, ‘It doesn’t matter what other animals think or feel because they don’t speak our language.’ Obviously this is not a progressive line of thinking because, well... again, we are arrogant and disregard, experience and the reversal of perspective. If you are, say, in a different country and the locals there say, “Your feelings and thoughts don’t matter cause you don’t speak our language.” It wouldn’t be entirely true, of course, because all humans cry and laugh, yell and whisper, etc. But it doesn’t make it right to assume we alone carry the burden of dealing with the Earth’s events like they were targeted intentionally to destroy our homes and take our lives.

If you live by the ocean AND in a region affected by earthquakes, just because it does not constantly interrupt your daily life, does not mean that it couldn’t happen at any time. Most of which is tied directly to education and the awareness that it could and likely will happen.

Note: (3/26/2012 I found this in my Google notepad and felt like I should post here it.)
That said, it obviously doesn't make the loss or pain and suffering feel any better. Nothing likes to lose it's home. My main point with this, is that, we should be better educated so that when disaster does strike we can be better prepared. I don't want to seem unsympathetic. People who live in dangerous places should be ready, on some level, for danger to occur.